Pork (also known as congressional earmarks) is special projects granted money from congress to promote certain causes. Sometimes earmarks are a good thing, and the right thing to do. But more often than not, earmarks are pure pork - money transferred from the US taxpayers, to small groups or corporations. Sometimes these transfers are to help generate jobs in the state, or draw tourism. Even in these cases, should the entire US be paying for the effort? And all too often the pork is nothing but a ......
Reader Steve C thinks I missed the point in my previous posts on hybrids being green - Are Hybrids Green (Part I) and Are Hybrids Green (Part II). While it's undeniable that hybrids use less fossil fuel to operate, the real question is how much extra fossil fuel the manufacturing of a hybrid and its components use? I'm no scientist, but I continue to read some sources that say that when you consider the additional energy consumed in building battery systems and other high-tech components of a hybrid ......
Reader J.Pickens replied to yesteday's post on Are Hybrids Really Green?, with some followup items for debate. I think I shall indulge him! ... the comment that solar cells being "just near the point of breakeven" has been claimed for at least the last thirty years. I'm sorry, but photovoltaic electric power generation just isn't the answer. I personally was a member of a team which produced the first thin film photovoltaic cells able to get greater than 10% energy conversion in large area cells. ......
Reader J. Pickens responded to my Toyota Camry Hybrid review with the following criticism : Its really too bad that the net energy use by your new hybrid is actually HIGHER than it would be for the non-hybrid version of the Camry. This is due to the extra energy cost of the electric motors, wiring, and, especially, the nickel metal hydride batteries which are not present in the non-hybrid Camry. Add it up, you are getting around an extra 10 to 15mpg for around 150,000 miles of battery lifetime. So, ......
I have been a fan of Egypt since I was a kid. I taught myself (some) hieroglypics, went on excavations in the backyard, and even had plans to be mummified. So when I saw King Tut was back in the states, I had to go. My mom had taken me when I was very young, but unfortunately I don't remember it. I tried to go on opening weekend, but it was sold out, so Natasha and I went back to the Field Museum this last weekend. This went sour pretty quickly. I brought my camera, and several lenses, along to be ......
update 6/11/8:32 am: Reader j.pickens questions the true benefits of a hybrid. Read my response here. update 6/10/06 2:22 pm: Welcome Instapundit readers! (and others) update 6/10/06 2:20 pm: I made another roadtrip, this time to Chicago, that revealed some additional insights : In the Chicago freeway system, the DVD navigation does use exit numbers in the audio guidance, but in my local Cedar Rapids area, I just get “stay right“ or “exit right” even though the exit number ......